Decent sounding guitar for recording

[cincy_kid]

I am looking at buying a decent sounding guitar for my home recording projects. I would like to spend somewhere in the ballpark of $200-$300. I could be convinced at spending a little more if it were that much of an improvement over the lower priced ones.

I will mainly be playing some rhythm guitar but once in a while some cheesey leads

I currently have a Godin that I used when I was playing out with my old band, but its trashed now (mainly because i never wiped it down after playing and I think my sweat has rusted out the entire pickup).

I will be most likely playing it through my Johnson Amp JM60 and micing the amp.

Anyways, any suggestions? I like a lighter guitar over a heavier one if that matters. And i would rather buy new than used.

Thanks in advance

 

[Outlaws]

I am looking at buying a decent sounding guitar for my home recording projects. I would like to spend somewhere in the ballpark of $200-$300. I could be convinced at spending a little more if it were that much of an improvement over the lower priced ones.

I will mainly be playing some rhythm guitar but once in a while some cheesey leads

I currently have a Godin that I used when I was playing out with my old band, but its trashed now (mainly because i never wiped it down after playing and I think my sweat has rusted out the entire pickup).

I will be most likely playing it through my Johnson Amp JM60 and micing the amp.

Anyways, any suggestions? I like a lighter guitar over a heavier one if that matters. And i would rather buy new than used.

Thanks in advance

I never wiped down a guitar and mine haven't rusted out. But that said, just buy a new pickup for it.

 

[cincy_kid]

well I am not positive that is what happened, but was an educated guess. Plus the guitar was like only a couple hundred dollars so I figured getting a new one might be better in the long run than replacing the pick up.

 

[TMatt142]

Go to Ebay and find a decent Ibanez like a RG 320 or even an older S470... check em out. Their pickups are fairly good stock. Thats what I use to record...my S-470. All depends on weather you like fixed bridge guitars or ones with Trems. Fixed bridge will give you more sustain. They are all over Ebay for fairly cheap

 

[cincy_kid]

Thanks for the advice, but I think I would rather buy new. At least then I have some kind of warranty...

 

[Dani Pace]

Ibanez and Washburn both have some pretty good guitars for $200-$300 new. Try a few and get what appeals to you.

 

[jeff5xo]

Hey Cincy. You're probably going to get a better deal buying used. However, if you really want to buy new you could get a Fender Meican strat or fat strat for around 300 new. I know that's a little higher than you wanted to spend, but it's a solid recording guitar. Is there any reason why you don't want to buy new pick ups for your current guitar? That would probably be the cheapest route. I'm a Gibson fan myself, but I was given a mexican strat, and it works great on lighter stuff. It would work well with your Johnson amp. Just my 2 cents. Good luck bro!

 

[mjau]

For a little more, you might find a Fender Nashville telecaster on the 'bay, and that's a helluva studio guitar if it's set up properly. Really versatile - I love mine, especially after replacing the middle pickup with a SD 59er minihumbucker.
And for a retro thing, those really cheap Danelectro reissues are pretty cool, too.

 

[Myriad_Rocker]

Keep saving a get a really nice guitar.

That's my advice.

 

[astoebe]

Keep saving a get a really nice guitar.

That's my advice.

kinda my advice, revised to.... keep saving and get a guitar in the 600-700 range

however that's not what you're looking for so in an effort to be helpful i second looking for a used guitar. i also second the nashville tele, a very good recording guitar (very versatile and will play well if set up right). Or, I say find a good guitar a little over your price range new, then find one used from an individual on ebay...

 

[notCardio]

For a little more, you might find a Fender Nashville telecaster on the 'bay, and that's a helluva studio guitar if it's set up properly. Really versatile - I love mine, especially after replacing the middle pickup with a SD 59er minihumbucker.
And for a retro thing, those really cheap Danelectro reissues are pretty cool, too.

That sounds interesting. Did you have to do any routing for that? Isn't the middle on a Nashville a single coil?

 

[cubanorocker316]

well i am posting this from personal experiance, but ibanez are pretty cheap in that price range amnd they sound amazing no matter which one you have, but the clean doesnt sound like what your looking for, but i have and esp ltd f-50 it cost around 200-220, and it sounds fukin awesome when u push it through distortion and really mellow when its in clean if you set yur amp the riht way soo there you go, hope this helps

- Luis

 

[astoebe]

well i am posting this from personal experiance, but ibanez are pretty cheap in that price range amnd they sound amazing no matter which one you have, but the clean doesnt sound like what your looking for, but i have and esp ltd f-50 it cost around 200-220, and it sounds fukin awesome when u push it through distortion and really mellow when its in clean if you set yur amp the riht way soo there you go, hope this helps

- Luis

i'm gonna have to disagree with the ibanez thing there

 

[hungovermorning]

pick me up

kinda my advice, revised to.... keep saving and get a guitar in the 600-700 range

however that's not what you're looking for so in an effort to be helpful i second looking for a used guitar. i also second the nashville tele, a very good recording guitar (very versatile and will play well if set up right). Or, I say find a good guitar a little over your price range new, then find one used from an individual on ebay...

Here's what I would do. Yes, keep saving, when you hit that 700 range you can get neat stuff. For now, if your pick up is blown, buy a set of Lindy Fralins, they SCREAM. All handwired, the guy handwires them for Mark Knoplfer amongst other people. Anyways, I threw a set of cream p90s in my 82 les paul special. oh my, night and day! Anyways, get those (regardless of cost, just do it, seriously, you'll be amazed what an upgrade it is) and take it to a luthier, he'll install them and mess with all the electrical stuff and get your guitar perfectly intonated and ready to rock. I sweat all kindsa stuff on my fralins and nothing has happened yet. That should tide you over until you get something you really really want.

cheers,
scott

 

[cincy_kid]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I did not think it was possible to replace my pickup in my current guitar so maybe I will go that route for now and save for a more expensive guitar.

Those Lindy Fralins look interesting and I am not sure if $80 is a gfood price or not for them but seems reasonable. When you say take it to a luthier , what does that mean exactly? Are they all over or just in certain states?

Thanks again

 

[cincy_kid]

Nevermind. I guess you are talking about this:

"A luthier is someone who is capable of crafting and repairing any of the many types of stringed instruments."

welcome to google duh, lol..

 

[Feanor IV]

I wouldn't buy new. Why not find a good ebayer with thousands of refs who specializes in used guitars? It's even safer (in my opinion) than buying new from a store, cause anything "wrong" with the guitar will already be discovered and either mentioned on the page or taken care of.....

 

[hungovermorning]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I did not think it was possible to replace my pickup in my current guitar so maybe I will go that route for now and save for a more expensive guitar.

Those Lindy Fralins look interesting and I am not sure if $80 is a gfood price or not for them but seems reasonable. When you say take it to a luthier , what does that mean exactly? Are they all over or just in certain states?

Thanks again

$80 is pretty standard, I think Seymour Duncans go for that and Fralins just rock. If you call up Godin's 800 number, ask them for an authorized Godin service center near you if possible. You always wnat to call your luthier and chat with him before dropping off your baby just for piece of mind (WAY better than just going to the music store and letting them send it off to their "guy." Now if they do the repair on site and let you watch, totally different story...)

cheers,
scott

 

[cincy_kid]

hrm, after looking at the godin website Godin Guitars, it doesnt even seem like they make my guitar anymore. I have the Godin G series USA. Very similar to this one.

Anyways. After searching on google for G series I dont see many (in english anyways) and all seem to be aroun $200 range. So just wondergin if it is wise to pay almost 1/2 of the guitar worth to put a new pickup in it or just buy a new one.

 

[hungovermorning]

hrm, after looking at the godin website Godin Guitars, it doesnt even seem like they make my guitar anymore. I have the Godin G series USA. Very similar to this one.

Anyways. After searching on google for G series I dont see many (in english anyways) and all seem to be aroun $200 range. So just wondergin if it is wise to pay almost 1/2 of the guitar worth to put a new pickup in it or just buy a new one.

Well keep the old pick ups around too and put them back in if you ever sell it. Try the pickup route as it'll be properly intonated and heave screaming pickups post repair. If you just buy another $200 guitar you'll just have something else that's kind of okay as opposed to something kind of good with killer pickups. You'll be happy, and if not, sell the pickups, there's alway s amarket for a set of Fralins.